This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, and every show is a part of the celebration.
The Opry 100 year-long celebration, commemorates the centennial anniversary of the institution, featuring performances by country artists, tribute acts, and surprise guests. Each event is regarded as a birthday celebration, with the official 100th anniversary performance scheduled for Nov. 28.
A lot of history can happen in 100 years, including a name change for the famous landmark.
Here’s where the famous theater got its name.
Where did the name Grand Ole Opry come from?
While the Grand Ole Opry may be a wellknown name in country music today, this wasn’t always the case.
When the show first started in November 1925, it was under the National Life and Accident Insurance Company, which managed the radio station WSM, named after their slogan “We Shield Millions.”
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Shortly after it began broadcasting, it was officially named the WSM Barn Dance by George D. Hay, a prominent announcer and program director.
A few years later, in December 1927, when the show had gained a more long-lasting popularity, Hay made a statement on air that would change the name forever.
After an NBC broadcast of Walter Damrosch’s Music Appreciation Hour, Hay proclaimed the following: “For the past hour, we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera, but from now on, we will present the Grand Ole Opry.”
The name stuck and remains unchanged almost 100 years later.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why they call it the Opry? How country’s biggest stage got its name
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